While the Rosenthal Porcelain Factory grew from humble decorating roots — as many pottery companies do — it eventually built a list of universally revered designer and artist partners that included Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. And after securing an enviable position as a top manufacturer of serveware and dominating the porcelain and bone china markets, Rosenthal expanded into furniture production, working with influential designers Verner Panton, Luigi Colani and Günther Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf.
German-born Jewish businessman Philipp Rosenthal founded the company in 1879 in Bavaria. It began as his modest workshop where he painted porcelain and encountered success with porcelain ashtrays. Rosenthal hired the best designers and clay modelers he could find. Adolf Oppel designed figurative Art Nouveau pieces, while Eleonore (Lore) Friedrich-Gronau produced decorative objects, namely her graceful porcelain dancer figurines, for the company.
Dinnerware, though, would be a Rosenthal mainstay. Between 1904 and 1910, Rosenthal produced its renowned dinnerware lines such as Donatello, Darmstadt and Isolde. These were introduced as unornamented white pieces — only later were they given their underglaze designs.
Rosenthal founder Philipp, a Catholic of Jewish ancestry, resigned in 1934 as the company’s president due to pressures owing to discriminatory German laws that took shape during the rise of the Nazi regime. Rosenthal died in 1937, and the family fled to America. The company would not regain its footing until 1950 when Rosenthal’s son, Philip, joined the firm and, in 1958, became chairman and dubbed Germany’s “China King.” At its peak, the company had 10,000 employees.
In the 1950s, Rosenthal’s modernist dinnerware was a significant part of the brand’s offerings, and by 1961 they introduced the famed Rosenthal Studio Line. Although furniture designers and ceramicists would lead the list of individuals working with Rosenthal — among them Tapio Wirkkala, Max Weber and Lisa Larson — the company eventually reached out to fine artists, not only Dalí and Warhol but Sandro Chia and Kenny Scharf. Rosenthal also collaborated with fashion designers Gianni Versace and Donatella Versace.
In a daring move in 1972, the company diversified into furniture, collaborating with some of the giants of mid-century modern design. The revolutionary Sunball chair, an icon of Space Age seating crafted by Selldorf and Ris, was among Rosenthal’s stellar successes in this venture.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Rosenthal ceramics, porcelain, tableware, seating and more.
H 8 in W 4 in D 4 in
Bjorn Wiinblad White Porcelain Vase for Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Beautiful and large 8 inch tall vase designed by Born Wiinblad for Rosenthal and manufactured in Germany. This white porcelain vase has an intricate sculptural pattern in a matte fin...
Porcelain
H 10.63 in Dm 5.52 in
Mid-Century OP-ART Vase Bisque Porcelain White by Heinrich Fuchs, 1960s, Germany
By Dr. Heinrich Fuchs, Lorenz Hutschenreuther
Located in Andernach, DE
An amazing bisque porcelain midcentury studio art pottery vase, op-art at it's peak, made in Germany, by Heinrich Fuchs for Hutschenreuther, circa 1960s. Vase is in very good conditi...
Porcelain
H 3.94 in Dm 2.76 in
Mid-Century German White Porcelain Vase by Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, 1960s
By Rosenthal
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant, white porcelain vase according to a design by Bjørn Wiinblad from the 1960s. The decor is embedded shows a fine relief with a matt finish. This piece has an attribution mark...
Porcelain
H 8.67 in W 3.63 in D 3.55 in
Rare Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Studio Line White Op Art Porcelain Vase
By Rosenthal, Tapio Wirkkala
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This elegant white porcelain vase was designed by the renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal Studio Line, Germany. Characteristic of Wirkkala’s refined and sculptural...
Porcelain
33cm Op Art Vase by Björn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio Line Germany, 1970s
By Rosenthal, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Op Art porcelain vase Producer: Rosenthal, Germany Designer: Björn Wiinblad Decade: 1970s This original vintage Op Art vase was produ...
Porcelain
H 8.5 in Dm 3.25 in
German Op Art Bisque Porcelain Vase by Lorenz Hutschenreuther
Located in Fairfield, CA
A mid century bisque porcelain vase, made in Germany by Lorenz Hutschenreuther. Cylindrical shape with an intricate op art relief design to the surface. Matte white glaze to the exte...
Porcelain
H 9.77 in Dm 3.35 in
Furstenberg White Porcelain Vase Floral Organic Leaf Relief Pattern
By Furstenberg Porcelain
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A very stylish round glossy glazed white porcelain vase by Fürstenberg with a floral organic leaf relief pattern, a real beautiful and elegant piece of decorative art. This vase is c...
Porcelain
Mid-Century German White Porcelain Vase by Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal, 1960s
By Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant, white porcelain vase based on a design by Bjørn Wiinblad from the 60s. The decor is inset shows a fine relief with matte finish. This piece has an attribution mark, It is co...
Porcelain
H 6.88 in W 4.38 in D 2.63 in
German White Matte Porcelain Vase by Rosenthal Studio Line
By Rosenthal
Located in New York, NY
A German white matte porcelain vase by Rosenthal Studio-Line Collection, circa late-20th century, Germany. Oval in shape with organic modern design on around - front, side and back. Maker's mark on bottom...
Ceramic, Porcelain
H 4.34 in Dm 3.35 in
Björn Wiinblad Vase White Porcelain Rosenthal Studio-line Germany Dove Pattern
By Rosenthal, Bjorn Wiinblad, Bjørn Wiinblad
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This Rosenthal studio-line vase is a stunning piece of design that combines matte unglazed and glossy glazed finishes to create a truly unique look. The matte area of the vase is decorated with a relief pattern of doves, which adds a touch of elegance and sophistication. The vase was designed by Bjorn Wiinblad in the 1960s and is still highly sought-after by collectors today. The matte unglazed finish gives the vase a natural, organic feel, while the glossy glazed finish adds a touch of luxury. The relief pattern of doves is a beautiful and symbolic addition to the vase, and it makes it a perfect piece for any home. This vintage Rosenthal vase...
Porcelain
Cuno Fischer Rosenthal Studio-Linie White Relief Op Art Porcelain Vase, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Cuno Fischer
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white Op-Art porcelain vase "the lute player" with abstract relief of a musician and shiny glaze from the 1960s, designed by Cuno Fischer, executed by Rosenthal Studio-Li...
Porcelain
Rosenthal White Relief Striped Porcelain Vase by Martin Freyer, Germany, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Martin Freyer
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white matte striped relief biscuit porcelain vase from the 1960s, designed by Martin Freyer, executed by Rosenthal, Germany. In very good condition.
Porcelain
Ambrogio Pozzi Rosenthal White Geometric Op Art Porcelain Vase, Germany, 1980s
By Ambrogio Pozzi, Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white fully glazed cone-shaped porcelain vase Plissee from the 1980s, designed by Ambrogio Pozzi in 1985, executed by Rosenthal, Germany. In excellent condition.
Porcelain
Huge White Relief Op Art Porcelain Vase, Martin Freyer, Rosenthal Germany, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Martin Freyer
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white matte op art relief porcelain vase from the 1960s, designed by Martin Freyer, executed by Rosenthal, Germany. In very good condition.
Porcelain
Rosenthal Germany Op Art Huge White Relief Porcelain Vase, 1960s
By Rosenthal
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white porcelain op art relief vase with shiny glaze from the 1960s, designed and executed by Rosenthal, Germany. In very good condition.
Porcelain
Cuno Fischer Rosenthal Studio-Linie White Relief Op Art Bowl with Lid, 1960s
By Rosenthal, Cuno Fischer
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful white matte relief op-art porcelain vase from the 1960s designed by Cuno Fischer and executed by Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany. In excellent condition.
Porcelain
